NYWIFT Blog

Photo courtesy of Simone Pero. On May 6, NYWIFT Documentary Committee head Marcia Rock, led a discussion with the movers and shakers behind the Girl Rising documentary on how the film secured strategic partnerships, engaged the community, and gained momentum to launch a global campaign. Girl Rising is an inspiring documentary that spotlights deeply moving...

Julia Roberts and Lyndell Quiyou. Photograph by Victoria Medina. From its beginning in 2000, NYWIFT’s Designing Women awards have honored women who have made some of the biggest stars look great through their hair, makeup, and costume design. Their work has been seen in award-winning TV shows and blockbuster films, such as Sex and the City, Law and...

Eden is a harrowing look at the sex trafficking industry here in the United States. Directed by Megan Griffiths, Eden won Griffiths the 2012 Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Director Award at SXSW Film Festival. Based on a true story, the film follows Eden (played by Jamie Chung), a young Asian teenager living in the United States lured...

Recently watched: Susanne Bier’s Love is All You Need. A lighter and more fun film than her brilliant Brothers, the stunning shots of the Italian countryside and shore make it a treat for the eyes as well. Go check out: Rainforest Alliance, not only one of our generous in-kind donors for Designing Women but their organizations work is important...

Chocolate lovers should be rushing to buy tickets for NYWIFT’s Designing Women awards. Tea lovers and Chelsea Piers fans should be planning their outfits. Writers should be making hair appointments at their favorite salon. They will each be rewarded for their efforts at the 13th annual event this upcoming night May 23, honoring the women of the film and television...

On April 30, NYWIFT partnered with the International Documentary Association (IDA) at Tribeca Film Center to present a lively panel discussion with filmmakers discussing how they funded their films. Photograph by Jennifer Silverman. The amazing panel included Mary Dore, Nancy Kennedy, Susan MacLaury, Megan Smith-Harris, John T. Trigonis, and moderator Savanna Washington. They all had great...

If you enjoy The Killing, currently on AMC, then the Top of The Lake, an original mini-series that aired recently on the Sundance Channel should be at the top of your list. Currently on Netflix, the series is written and directed by Jane Campion and features hypnotically, spectacular cinematography by Adam Arkapaw. Taking a break from Madison Avenue’s...

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife. On May 23, NYWIFT will host Designing Women, a star-studded event that puts the spotlight on women design artists who have created outstanding hair, makeup, and costume design for film, television, and digital media. New York Women in Film & Television began presenting the award in 2000 with the first...

Maybe this is the first play you’ve written, maybe it’s your twentieth, but at some point, it’s going to get produced, and that’s when you’re going to have to let go of your baby and place it in the hands of someone else. Theatre is a collaborative art form and my goal is to embrace...

A sign of the times: and I like it — All My Children and One Life to Live return not to the airwaves, but to the internet. It is great that these shows are back and bringing back many of the actors who made the shows work. They will be available on Hulu and iTunes. This Time article...

The very idea of One Night Stand — that a cast and crew throw fear aside and do the seemingly impossible, move from a blank page to a live performance in 24 hours, demonstrates perfectly that when you dive into the creative process with everything you’ve got, magic happens. There’s a brazenness and love of craft...

Photo by April Hattori. Some of the city’s top publicists participated in the Ins & Outs of Film Festival PR panel discussion, produced by New York Women in Film & Television on April 23. The distinguished panel featured Clare Anne Darragh and Lina Plath of FRANK PR; Sophie Gluck of Sophie Gluck & Associates; Omar Gonzales, vice president...

BAFTA NY (British Academy of Film and Television Arts, NY) sponsored a panel discussion April 22nd with Mad Men creator and producer Matthew Wiener and cast, and graciously invited NYWIFT Members to join them for the evening. The New York Times’ David Itzkhoff moderated the panel, which was followed by a reception at the Harvard Club NYC....

Who Cannes we blame for the lack of female directors in festivals? Ava DuVernay has shown an affinity for filmmaking. She’s moving, not retiring. She’s only 88, people! Mira Nair gives a fundamentally important interview. Rejected, accepted, has written and directed. The Claire Kilner interview. This Maidentrip director didn’t shoot everything herself. BANG! Meera Menon, you won! Meera Menon...

Photo from Oprah magazine. Writer and director Nora Ephron, a woman of brilliance, warmth, generosity and wit, has inspired the creation of an award at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. “The Nora” is a $25,000 prize, which will be awarded annually to the woman filmmaker whose voice and vision best embody Nora Ephron’s spirit, and whose film makes its...

I can’t remember the last time I saw a funny female buddy movie. “The Heat,” starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, looks to be that movie. Directed by Paul Feig of “Bridesmaids,” the film appears to have the hi-jinx of its predecessor, but less “raunchy” by the looks of the trailer. The film arrives in theaters on June 28. —...

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) advocates for equality in the moving image industry and supports women in every stage of their careers. As the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York, NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers.